The father and his three daughters stood at the entrance of the General's mansion. Household guards held up a ladder as Xiao Zhen pasted the peachwood charms.
"Dad, it's crooked, it's crooked, a little to the left, it's too far, a little to the right now..." Xiao Man directed from below, while Xiao Ling was in charge of the paste.
After finishing the peachwood charms on the main gate, Xiao Zhen was drenched in sweat. Xiao Ling quickly handed him a handkerchief. "I never expected pasting peachwood charms to be so tiring."
"Uncle Lu used to direct people to change them. Now I don't know where he is. It's almost the New Year, and I don't know when Uncle Lu will be back," Xiao Man sighed. "Dad, do you know where Uncle Lu went?"
"He went to take care of an old friend," Xiao Zhen said to Xiao Man with a complex expression.
"Aren't all of Uncle Lu's old friends at the General's mansion?" Xiao Man was puzzled. Ever since she could remember, Steward Lu had been at the mansion. She recalled Steward Lu saying he had no family left.
"Do you miss your Uncle Lu?"
"He's so old, and he left the General's mansion. I wonder if he's eating well and staying warm," Xiao Man said worriedly. "For so many years, the General's mansion has been his home. I wonder what could be so important that he had to leave the General's mansion, leave us."
Xiao Zhen reached out to pat Xiao Man's head, but his hands were dirty. He immediately switched to the back of his hand. "Don't worry, your Uncle Lu will be fine. You will see him again."
"It's almost New Year's, and Elder Brother and Sister-in-law can't come back. Grandmother and Fourth Sister are in Cangzhou, and Uncle Lu isn't here either. It feels a bit desolate," she said, and the sisters held onto Xiao Zhen's arms. "Let's stay up together this year, it'll be more lively!"
"Alright!"
On New Year's Eve, He Qingyi had prepared everything needed for staying up late. She also ordered snacks to prevent boredom during the vigil.
"Why don't the four of us play cards?" He Qingyi suggested. Four people were just enough to sit at a table.
"Okay, it's New Year's. Dad and Mother, give me and my sister some pocket money," Xiao Man said immediately.
"Alright," He Qingyi said with a smile. The four of them sat around the table. The maids stoked the charcoal fire until it was blazing, and brewed hot tea and prepared pastries, placing them nearby to keep warm, lest the tea and pastries get cold too quickly in the harsh winter.
"Leave two servants to attend to us. The rest can go and entertain themselves," He Qingyi instructed.
Xiao Ling rarely played games like Pai Gow, but she knew how to play. After all, ladies from noble families would gather and play when they were bored.
"I've won!" Xiao Man pushed her tiles forward.
He Qingyi picked up a piece of silver and gave it to Xiao Man. "Eldest Miss has good luck."
"I've won too," Xiao Ling said, having taken a tile from Xiao Zhen.
Xiao Zhen rubbed his head. He was skilled in warfare but not in playing Pai Gow. After several rounds, Xiao Zhen hadn't won a single game.
Xiao Ling quietly tugged at Xiao Man's sleeve and whispered, "Eldest Sister, should we let Dad win sometimes? Dad hasn't won once."
Xiao Man's expression turned serious. "That won't do. There are no fathers and daughters at the card table. How can we let him win just because his card skills are not good?"
"No letting me win. I'm intentionally losing to you to give you more lucky money!" Xiao Zhen immediately said. "Don't you want your lucky money anymore?"
Xiao Ling lowered her head and smiled. She shuffled the tiles and started another round. As the rounds went on, except for Xiao Zhen who kept losing, the others had their wins and losses.
"Eldest Sister, you don't seem to have lost even once?" Xiao Ling asked in surprise.
"Your Eldest Sister grew up playing cards. How could she lose!" Xiao Zhen glanced at Xiao Man. "Girl, you're not cheating, are you?"
"Dad, you're being unfair!" Xiao Man drew a tile. "I've won again, pay up!"
Xiao Zhen glared at Xiao Man's tiles, then looked at the single piece of silver left in front of him, which Xiao Man had taken. His expression was one of great amusement. "Can't you let me win just once?"
"Dad, you said yourself, no letting wins."
Xiao Zhen looked helpless. "What time is it?"
"The clepsydra has already struck midnight," He Qingyi stretched. "Unknowingly, midnight has passed. We can go out and set off firecrackers."
"Then let's go set off firecrackers. After that, everyone go to sleep," Su Dan Novel Network.
Xiao Zhen lit firecrackers in the courtyard. All over the city, firecrackers began to explode, crackling incessantly.
"Tomorrow morning, wake up early."
"Understood, Father, Mother. Please rest early."
Xiao Man first sent Xiao Ling back before returning to Shuiyue Xiaozhu. Yin Zhu was waiting inside. Seeing Xiao Man return, she hurried to greet her. "Yingxue, there's food left in the kitchen. Eat if you're hungry before you rest. I'll stay with Miss. You'll need to accompany Miss when we go out tomorrow."
"I ate a lot in the main courtyard and I'm full. I won't eat. I'm going to sleep now. Miss, you should also rest early."
Xiao Man nodded and walked towards the bedroom. As she opened the door, she found Nangong Yu sitting under the lamp, reading a book. On the table was a plate of wrapped dumplings.
Yin Zhu stopped immediately upon seeing this and closed the door.
Xiao Man took off her cloak and hung it on the rack. "You've been here for a while?"
"I estimated the time and came," Nangong Yu put down his book. "Dongfang Wei sent a message during the day saying you were looking for me. I thought you wanted to stay up with me for the New Year, but I was overthinking again."
Xiao Man saw the pot on the stove and immediately opened the lid. "You seem to especially like dumplings."
"I only know how to make dumplings," Nangong Yu said seriously. "The only thing I can make for you with my own hands is dumplings."
Xiao Man took a pot of wine from the cupboard and handed a box to Nangong Yu. "Birthday gift."
A flicker of a smile appeared in Nangong Yu's eyes. "I thought you had forgotten my birthday."
"How could I forget?" Xiao Man glanced at Nangong Yu. "That girl Xi Yue has been reminding me for a long time, 'Miss, the first day of the New Year is His Highness's birthday. Have you prepared a birthday gift?'"
Nangong Yu couldn't help but chuckle when he heard this. "If she hadn't reminded you, would you have forgotten?"
"How could I," Xiao Man said as she saw the dumplings floating to the surface. She scooped them out and put them on a plate. "Your birthday is so special, I can't forget it even if I wanted to."
Nangong Yu washed his hands and sat down at the table, pouring a cup of wine. He sniffed it. "Just smelling the aroma, I know it's good wine. Where did you get it?"
"Mo Han sent it over."
Nangong Yu's expression changed. "He knows your preferences. He's always good at seizing opportunities to please you."
Xiao Man saw the dumplings floating and scooped them out, serving them onto a plate. "You're jealous."
"Yes, I'm jealous!"
Xiao Man immediately laughed. "Everyone has different ways of conducting themselves. Mo Han is a gentle scholar, good at being considerate. You are a renowned general on the battlefield, skilled at commanding others. Your methods are different, there's no need for comparison."